Chandigarh to Ahmedabad Road Trip: My First Long Drive in the Suzuki Jimny

This trip wasn’t supposed to be a vacation. It started as a business visit because one of my clients “Salim”, was flying to India to meet the accounting and marketing teams. But since it involved a long road trip, it naturally transformed into a business-cum-holiday journey — and the perfect excuse to test my Jimny on a 1,200+ km route.

Day 1 – Chandigarh to Jaipur

We started early from Chandigarh at 6 AM, determined not to make the day exhausting. The plan was clear:
Chandigarh → Jaipur (rest) → Udaipur (rest) → Ahmedabad (final stop).

I’d driven to Jaipur twice before, so the route felt familiar. The national highway was smooth, well maintained, and early morning traffic was mostly trucks. But as the sun came up, the highway opened up beautifully.

We took two breaks — the first near Kaithal, and another at Mannat Haveli close to Jaipur. Crisp morning air, slightly cold weather, rising sun… the perfect driving cocktail.

We reached Jaipur around 3 PM, clocking roughly nine hours including breaks. We checked into Clarks Inn right on the highway so the next day’s departure would be easier.

After resting and freshening up, we stepped out because no Jaipur visit is complete without a little market time.

• First stop: Prajeet Chaat Bhandar, Chandpole Bazaar for chaat papri.

• Next: Gulab Ji Chai Wale for bun maska and tea — and as always, the chai delivered perfectly.

• From there, we walked to Bapu Bazaar, where Ayushi did some shopping for herself and our mothers.

A good dinner later, we wrapped up Day 1.

Day 2 – Jaipur to Udaipur (A Rain Drive I’ll Remember Forever)

We started the next morning at 6:30 AM. None of us had seen the Jaipur–Udaipur patch before, except for a few vlogs I had watched. Within the first 30 minutes, rain welcomed us, and it didn’t stop for the next 6–7 hours.

Two routes connect Jaipur to Udaipur:

1. Via Nathdwara

2. Via Chittorgarh

We went via Chittorgarh that day. The highway was mostly 4–6 lanes, smooth, wide, and surprisingly scenic. We crossed Ajmer, Bhilwara, and Chittorgarh with mountains on both sides, clouds touching the hilltops, and rain adding that dramatic feel.

We took two breaks:

• Breakfast at Highway King between Jaipur and Kishangarh

• Tea at a roadside dhaba near Chittorgarh

Even with the rain and slippery patches, the Jimny stayed stable between 80–100 kmph — slow enough to be safe, fast enough to maintain momentum.

We reached Udaipur around 1 PM, checked into our hotel, and took a short break before heading out. Being familiar with Udaipur helped — we knew exactly what we wanted to do.

We explored the local markets, picked up a hand-printed bedsheet for Salim and his wife, grabbed some gifts for family and friends, and ended the evening with Rajwadi chai + jalebi fafda from the local stalls.
Simple, flavorful, and perfect for the rainy weather.

After wrapping up our walk around Pichola and the narrow streets of Udaipur, we headed back to the hotel and called it a night.

Day 3 – Udaipur to Ahmedabad (The Best Leg of the Trip)

The final morning started with breakfast at the hotel, and then we pushed off for Ahmedabad via Bichiwara → Himatnagar → Gandhinagar.

Out of all three days, this was by far the best drive —
mountain views, clean highways, lush greenery, and well-marked roads.

This was also my first time entering Gujarat by road, so I was a bit nervous but equally excited.

Just after crossing into Gujarat, we stopped at an Honest Restaurant for jalebi fafda and chai — expecting a great start. But it turned out below average, and the hygiene wasn’t great either. We didn’t stay long.

As we approached Gandhinagar, the difference in road discipline was visible — organised traffic, proper lane markings, and structured signage. If people start following lane driving fully, Gandhinagar could easily become my second-favourite city to drive in, right after Chandigarh.

By afternoon, we checked into Hyatt Ahmedabad, Vastrapur — tired but fully satisfied with the journey.

Meeting the Team in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad wasn’t just the final stop — it was the purpose of the entire trip. This was the first time I was going to meet Edner and Shane, who flew all the way from the Philippines to India to meet the accounting team and me in person.
Edner’s friend Ron joined them on the trip as well, excited to explore India for the first time.

We spent two days together — one purely for work, aligning on processes, discussing projects, and getting everyone on the same page. The second day was all about unwinding. We drove out to Gulmohar Greens, a beautiful golf park and spent the day relaxing, walking around, clicking pictures, and just enjoying a slow, quiet day after all the travel.

In the evening, we headed to Barbecue Nation at Nexus Mall, right opposite our hotel. The place was packed, lively, and full of that classic Indian buffet chaos — endless starters, live grills, sweets, and everything in between. Watching them try Indian flavours for the first time was fun to witness, and I really hope they enjoyed every bit of it.

A day before returning to Chandigarh, we also visited a local market to try some authentic items and street flavours. We even had Jamun shots again — our second round in Ahmedabad — just for the fun of it.
It was great seeing their reactions to Indian food, spices, and quirky items. I genuinely hope Edner, Shane and Ron enjoyed the flavours and the overall experience of being here.

Final Thoughts on the Drive

This entire trip could’ve easily been done in one or two days if more than one person was driving. But since I was the only one behind the wheel, splitting the journey into three comfortable patches was the smartest decision.
Every stop had a purpose. Every stretch offered something new.

And the Jimny?
Stable. Reliable. Predictable.
It handled rain, long highways, city traffic, and mountain curves without a fuss.

Closing the Journey

This trip was a mix — business commitments, long driving hours, new cities, great food, cultural pockets, and a solid road-test for the Jimny. Overall, a fantastic experience.

Thanks for reading till the end.

I’ll see you in the next blog — most likely another escape to Manali, Himachal Pradesh, because somehow every road eventually leads back to the mountains.